Broadway series opens with 'Blast!'

Broadway seriesopens with 'Blast!'
YOUNGSTOWN -- First Place Bank Community Foundation's Broadway Series 2005-06 will feature four unforgettable productions.
"Blast!" (Nov. 14-15) combines instrumental virtuosity and marching precision with the costuming, staging and special effects of musical theater.
"Oklahoma!" (Feb. 6-7) is the Rodgers and Hammerstein landmark musical.
"Thoroughly Modern Millie" (May 1-2) is a high-spirited musical romp filled frisky flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of a villainess.
"Rhythm of the Dance" (March 20) is a fusion of Irish storytelling, music, dance and song.
All events take place at Powers Auditorium. Tickets are $137 and $115 for the plays, and $49 and $39 for "Rhythm of the Dance." Call (330) 744-1441.
Art exhibitions at Hoyt
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts 2005 Hoyt Mid-Atlantic Juried Art Exhibition opened with local accolades as four regional artists were awarded special nods by Dana Miller, curator of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
The competition is open to both professional and aspiring artists residing in eight states and the District of Columbia, including Pennsylvania and Ohio. This year, of the 373 works submitted, only 49 pieces were accepted from 33 artists.
Jennifer Dinovitz of Pittsburgh won third place with her mixed media piece titled, "Inside Her." Kathleen Kase Burk of Edinburg, Pa.; Dana Ingham of McKees Rocks, Pa., and Elizabeth Rundorff of Edinboro, Pa., took three of the six merit awards with their works "Heliocentric Theory," "Chair Pattern #3," and "To Stir, To Sip, To Rinse," respectively.
First-place honor was awarded to a most unusual media this year, honoring the heritage of cut paper. Mary Gaynier of Toledo, Ohio, transformed this rather simple sounding craft into an elegant contemporary statement on urban life. Aptly named "City Diner," the image is alive with cars, buildings, pedestrians and of course, diners.
Showcased aside the Mid-Atlantic Juried Art Exhibition in the Blair Sculpture Walkway Gallery is a solo exhibition of sculptures by Ohio artist Richard Eisen.
The exhibitions run Sept. 27-Nov. 11. Gallery hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.hoytartcenter.org.
Ensemble in concert
BOARDMAN -- The Youngstown State University symphonic wind ensemble will perform for free at the Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The 55-member ensemble produced a CD that was selected by Downbeat magazine as Best University CD of 2004.